Local Affiliate

Amarillo Area Young Lawyers Association Bicycle Project
By:  J. Shane Brooks

The Amarillo Area Young Lawyers Association is launching a new, exciting project this year.  Admittedly this project is modeled after a project that a local rotary club has been doing in Amarillo for a number of years.  But, it is new to AAYLA. 

This new project is aimed at elementary school children.  However, unlike years past, it does not involve fielding questions like “How much money do you make?” or “How long do you have to go to school?” over and over again.  Instead, we will partner with a local elementary school in a project that will help increase school attendance, grades, and bicycle safety awareness.  We also hope this program will encourage kids to get outside and exercise. 

How can we do all these great things at the same time?  We created a perfect attendance bicycle award.  Each student that has perfect attendance for a semester will be entered into a drawing to win a free bicycle and helmet. We will award one bicycle and helmet for each grade at the school.  We will also distribute TYLA’s Bicycle Safety information.  If you haven’t reviewed TYLA’s Bicycle Safety handout, you should.  It provides safety tips for cyclists and for motorists when interacting with cyclists.  Click here to check it out. 

Each day absent from school is a lost learning opportunity for these kids.  Statistics show that students that attend school regularly achieve higher levels of academic success.  Poor attendance as early as kindergarten has been linked to an increased risk of negative behaviors.  Other studies show a correlation between absenteeism in early grades and performance in reading, math, and general knowledge.  Absenteeism is also a leading indicator of whether a student will drop out of high school.  It goes without saying that one of the best ways to help our young kids achieve academic success is to make sure they are in their seats when the bell rings. 

We hope this project will engage students in a positive way.  Instead of being punished for excessive absences, which may in itself perpetuate the problem, we hope that this project will help encourage them to attend school.  We also hope that a few lucky students enjoy their new bikes. 

J. Shane Brooks is an attorney with Sprouse Shrader Smith PLLC in Amarillo and president of the Amarillo Area Young Lawyers Association.